northernmost Royal Palm in INLAND Florida ???

[Eric in Orlando]

This Cuban Royal Palm (Roystonea regia) maybe the the furthest north growing in inland Florida. It is growing on the southeast shore of Lake Monroe just east of downtown Sanford. Here it is about 1 1/2 miles across the lake. This is actually a wide spot in the St. John's River. Sanford is about 25 miles north of Orlando. This neighborhood has a very warm microclimate.

There are lots of big southern live oaks for canopy or to help as wind breaks/heat traps. I also saw lots of healthy foxtail palms (Wodyetia bifurcata), golden cane palms/areca palms (Dypsis lutescens), and even some solitaire palms (Ptychosperma elegans). Also large Queen Sago cycads (Cycas rumphii) and large crotons.

There was also this mature Screw-Pine, Pandanus utilis. You can see it was damaged the past 2 cold winters but has survived.

[Trópico]

Nice finds Eric!

[Zeeth]

Not much farther south than where Bartram recorded seeing royal palms. Pretty cool!

[Dakotafl]

I would like to see someone plant one along the southern shore of lake george or somewhere around there where bartram noted them.

[Mike Evans]

I would like to see someone plant one along the southern shore of lake george or somewhere around there where bartram noted them.

Good info Eric!. I travel along the St Johns river, through Lake George quite often. All I have ever seen is a foxtail. Lake George is the 2nd largest lake in FL, & would make a good micro climate on the south end. I think that neck of the woods is more fish camp mentally, then tropical palms, or else I would expect to see more. Beautiful country, w/ millions of century Live Oaks for canopy. Any Palmtalkers around there?

[edric]

Wow, I'l bet when it's 31 here in Oak Hill, it's 27 there, anyone know the difference in lows between New Smyrna Bch., and Sanford? Ed

[edbrown_III]

Not much farther south than where Bartram recorded seeing royal palms. Pretty cool!

Dahme, Bud, I, Jerry Hooper and few other folks rented a house boat and went up the Tomoka river and planted about 20 Florida Royals about a dozen years ago. --- I wonter if they are still there ?

[palmsOrl]

Somebody should go check it out. Can you give specifics on where they are/were planted?

-Michael

[Eric in Orlando]

I was just wondering about that. I thought I remembered some of yall going up there planting some R. elata. Where exactly did they get planted ???

[Eric in Orlando]

Wow, I'l bet when it's 31 here in Oak Hill, it's 27 there, anyone know the difference in lows between New Smyrna Bch., and Sanford? Ed

Ed, that area looked to be a very warm microclimate, probably only extends maybe a 1/4 mile from the lake/river edge. There are also some Wodyetia and some Adonidia in downtown Sanford that survived the past 2 winters. And for Pandanus and Ptychosperma to survive too, that is a very warm pocket. I would dare to say that immediate area adjacent to to the lake/river is zone 10 barring a 1989 freeze, just like areas around Winter Park and metro Orlando. If it was 31 in Oak Hill it was probably a few degrees warmer in that area.

[Jeff Searle]

That's pretty interesting and could prove to be encouraging to those in that area to grow their own.

[edbrown_III]

Wow, I'l bet when it's 31 here in Oak Hill, it's 27 there, anyone know the difference in lows between New Smyrna Bch., and Sanford? Ed

Ed, that area looked to be a very warm microclimate, probably only extends maybe a 1/4 mile from the lake/river edge. There are also some Wodyetia and some Adonidia in downtown Sanford that survived the past 2 winters. And for Pandanus and Ptychosperma to survive too, that is a very warm pocket. I would dare to say that immediate area adjacent to to the lake/river is zone 10 barring a 1989 freeze, just like areas around Winter Park and metro Orlando. If it was 31 in Oak Hill it was probably a few degrees warmer in that area.

Eric

Good to hear from lyou

the map shows where it is--- as best I recollect we were hauling as much beer as palms and went home with neither.

Bartram evidently visited there befor the little ice age and we planted them after the AO cold period. I saw Acrosticum and Vittaria and other subtropic plants that yoiu see in south florida. We planted them on banks so they were right in that micro climate.

Best regards

Ed

[Eric in Orlando]

That isn't too far downstream on the St. John's from DeLeon Springs.

Wonder if they are still alive. How big were they when you planted them ??

[edbrown_III]

These were small 3 gallone etc. maybe on 10 gallon pot --- alot could happen I know besides freezes rabits rats nutrientia etc.

I zoomed in on google earth to see if i could discern a royal palm in the bushes but just could be certain. I saw one or two in yards though.

Bestregardss

Ed

[Eric in Orlando]

It would be interesting to take a boat up again and look for specimens !!!

[edbrown_III]

I need to get the canoe out and do this -- its real pretty trip and only about 1 or so from my house.

Best regards

Ed

[Jason-Palm king]

On 1/4/2012, 11:08:12, Eric in Orlando said:

This Cuban Royal Palm (Roystonea regia) maybe the the furthest north growing in inland Florida. It is growing on the southeast shore of Lake Monroe just east of downtown Sanford. Here it is about 1 1/2 miles across the lake. This is actually a wide spot in the St. John's River. Sanford is about 25 miles north of Orlando. This neighborhood has a very warm microclimate.

 

 

 

There are lots of big southern live oaks for canopy or to help as wind breaks/heat traps. I also saw lots of healthy foxtail palms (Wodyetia bifurcata), golden cane palms/areca palms (Dypsis lutescens), and even some solitaire palms (Ptychosperma elegans). Also large Queen Sago cycads (Cycas rumphii) and large crotons.

 

There was also this mature Screw-Pine, Pandanus utilis. You can see it was damaged the past 2 cold winters but has survived.

 

Eric the pics you posted here are gone ...do u still have them and where is this royal located on lake Monroe ? I live 5 Min from lake Monroe 

[Kekoanui]

I think these take the cake.  These Royals have reached full maturity or are close to flowering.

i never would have believed this but here a not one but three Royals palms in Jacksonville, Florida. 

https://www.instantstreetview.com/@30.213956,-81.621996,1.78h,14.61p,0.82z

[Fishinsteeg234]

Bumping an old thread. Has anyone local ever searched for these Royals planted along the St John’s River north of Orlando? I have a boat and probably cruise up the river from Lake Monroe to Lake George a half dozen times a year. I’ve never noticed any Royals naturalized along the river, but I’d be glad to go for a search if anyone knows anything about these plantings. @Eric in Orlando @edbrown_III. 

[ck_in_fla]

The only royals that have been verified along the St. Johns River are:

1) The large trees growing at an RV dealership along Lake Monroe (actually part of the St; Johns River) right near the I-4 bridge.

2) The trees growing in a microclimate along a branch of the river up in Jacksonville.

These are the only Royal Palms along the river that have been verified here on this forum.  That's not to say there aren't others.

There is also the report, from 1783 I believe, where an explorer (I believe his name was "Bartram") described what had to be Royal palms growing well North of their present day range in the area of Lake George I think.  Others with more knowledge of this please feel free to fill in the details I have omitted.

[kinzyjr]

This is a good starting point for Roystonea and other crownshaft palms in the Jacksonville area:

https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/topic/83405-jacksonville-palms-9ab/?do=findComment&comment=1157981

[Merlyn]

The NW Orlando ones I'm aware of are:

• 10ish tall trunking at the Donnie Myers Luxury Coach RV dealer, just at the corner of 17 and Orange Blvd.  These have been there since about 2012 and were planted as at least 10' tall palms...at least based on Google Streetview.  Here they are in 2013: https://www.google.com/maps/@28.8289067,-81.323916,3a,75y,216.6h,85.61t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1s9YyLjZXfZlfvdLy-NaKduQ!2e0!5s20130701T000000!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D4.393787455164031%26panoid%3D9YyLjZXfZlfvdLy-NaKduQ%26yaw%3D216.6036653963451!7i13312!8i6656?coh=205410&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDkxOC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
• A city planting of a solo ~15 foot tall one on Primera Blvd just West of Rinehart Rd.  This appeared in March 2020 and did ok in the couple of freezes since: https://www.google.com/maps/@28.7651696,-81.3487073,3a,75y,225.45h,90.35t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1stX2GMYJg4Vym8LV94FrIsg!2e0!5s20200301T000000!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-0.35342853425220255%26panoid%3DtX2GMYJg4Vym8LV94FrIsg%26yaw%3D225.45343714242455!7i16384!8i8192?coh=205410&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDkxOC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
• Two ~15 foot tall plantings around the summer of 2020 just South of Lake Mary Blvd about a mile West of I4.  They are in a gated subdivision, so no streetview.  These were defoliated in the January 2022 brutally cold weekend, where it hit 24.4F in my backyard.  I'm guessing these saw upper 20s just based on location.  They bounced back just fine.

[Fishinsteeg234]

Here’s another example of a few larger Roystonea growing in a private garden visible from the road inland part of North Orlando, off Markham Woods Rd. Wekiva Springs area. Ive been watching these for the past few years, and this yard has been mentioned here previously on PT. Google street view has old pics back from 2011.
 

recent:


 

older:

[Johnny Palmseed]

Those pictures really show one of the problems with zone pushing. The yard looks good when the weather is warm but desolate when cold. Obviously palms are not deciduous like a tree so the desiccated or no frond look is unnatural. It makes them look dead even if they aren’t.